Meantime is a 2022 crime fiction novel by the Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle. The story follows drug addict Felix McAveety's unfocused investigation into his friend Marina's death. It is set in Glasgow, Scotland, shortly after the 2014 independence referendum. Felix is aided by the crime fiction writer Jane, the left-wing activist Amy and his depressed neighbour Donnie. They meet Chong, who seems to believe reality is simulated, and find signs that British Intelligence are involved in Marina's death.
Though he had written non-fiction before, Meantime was Boyle's first novel; he wrote parts of the novel in hotels after stand-up performances and while wandering his hometown Glasgow. The book was published by Baskerville, a new crime fiction imprint of John Murray, on 21 July 2022. It was nominated for Bloody Scotland's Debut of the Year award.
Reviewers found that the novel's plot was of secondary importance to its social and political commentary, including Scotland's role in colonialism and capitalism and the nature of Scottish identity. Critics largely praised Boyle's comedic dialogue, his descriptions of Glasgow and its inhabitants, and the revelations of what led to Felix's drug dependence. However, some reviewers criticised the plot as unfocused and that some digressions are excessive or read like Boyle is directly expressing his thoughts.
Background
Frankie Boyle is a Scottish comedian, aged 49 at the time of the book's release. Meantime was Boyle's first fiction book, though he had previously authored four non-fiction works: the autobiography My Shit Life So Far (2009); a collection of his columns from The Sun titled Work! Consume! Die! (2011); a political comedy book, Scotland's Jesus (2013); and a political essay, The Future of British Politics (2020).
Crime writer James Ellroy was one of Boyle's favourite authors and Boyle had been a longstanding reader of the genre. Boyle experimented writing with a narrative voice, not initially planning to write a book, and discovered interest in a detective character. Not constrained to rely on the book for income, Boyle tried to recreate styles that he enjoyed reading. Boyle worked on the book while in hotel rooms after stand-up routines, unable to sleep due to adrenaline. He also wrote on his phone while wandering around Glasgow, where he lived and the book was set. He joked that he was "very keen on not going mad during a lockdown, and writing the book really helped with that"; Laura Wilson of The Guardian noted a proliferation of crime fiction by male celebrities written during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Boyle said at the Edinburgh Book Festival in 2022: "I would much rather, if I could, segue into writing novels and just stay in the house and not travel so much". He said of writing, in comparison to stand-up comedy, that "you don't have to go and sell it to people". However, he said that writing fiction was "equally difficult", and believed it was a myth that celebrities can automatically get their books published. Boyle said on Twitter in September 2022 that he planned to begin writing a second novel over Christmas.
Characters
The novel is narrated through the main character, Felix McAveety. Andrew Anthony of The Observer commented that though Felix—like Boyle—is white, straight and male, few other characters in the book are.